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Friday, December 30, 2016

Well I have a few WIPs (work in progress) on the go. Two are in the final stages (Quilting & Binding) so as a kudos for near completion I started a new project! Not entirely sure if that logic makes sense... but it does to me

As you know I love the quilt designs of Lorna with Sew Fresh Quilts. I just recently finished her Dog Gone Cute quilt and was eager to start her Black Birds pattern. I am way to excited to wait until I have more completed on this quilt, I just had to share.

I finally made my way into the city to pick out the fabric for the Black Birds quilt. I was visiting my grandmother who just so happens to live one block away from my favorite quilt shop. You know what they say "When in Rome" ... you buy fabric ha-ha.

With out further adieu here is a sneak peek of my new project. I hope you are as excited about it as I am!!!

I felt like a princess at the fabric store. I had my own personal fabric specialist help me pick out my colours for the quilt. The entire store was mine, it was a great day of retail therapy.

I have all my fabric cut and ready to go! Instructions to the left and fabric to the right (what can go wrong). I honestly have to say the cutting for this project really was a breeze. I did it on Christmas Day while my Hubby and Brother relaxed by the fire drinking hot chocolate.

Don't look too close this was the very first birdy I made, they have gotten progressively better the more I make.

Seeing that I am so eager to share my new project with everyone I have linked up this post to the Fort Worth Fabric Studio and Busy Hands Quilts link party. It's always nice to find gracious link up party hosts.

Have a look at the Link ups, there are some fantastic projects there to spark your inspiration.

Sunday, December 18, 2016

I think we are starting a new trend! As you know we proudly post our WIPs and finished projects through social media and our blog. I never realized the reach we had through social media until our friends started contacting us inquiring about quilting.

Momma here....Morgan's friends have been asking her for-eeevver to teach them to quilt!

People were showing such an interest in quilting that "Quilting Momma" decided to host a quilting class at her house!!! KUDOS Mom... I just came along for the ride.

....and I jumped at the chance to bring some new peeps into our fold! Hee hee...to join the "Crazy" fabricadabra spell that Quilter's fall under!

My very first quilt I ever made was an Irish Chain quilt, my mother registered me into a quilting class on the weekends when I was ... I think 14 (can't really remember exactly) It was around the time that we moved to the big city and I had zero friends and nothing to do on the weekends!!! In all honesty I think my Mom registered me into the class because I was driving her crazy.

...oh be still my heart my Youngest! I never once felt you driving me crazy, but to be honest, you really did need something to do! You were soooo little....so teeny...even the gym teacher thought you were too much of a risk to have in any gym groups {picture Morgan, the size of a kid in Grade 4, with the kids in Grade 7 - playing any team sport...she would have been squished!} so, "Hey Morgan, what do you think about making a quilt for yourself?" PS..it wasn't too long after this that she made some amazing friends [ Britt...her bestie and recent Maid of Honor, was one of the first to want to learn how to quilt!]

I knew absolutely nothing about quilting asides from watching my Mom, so this was a challenge. I remember walking into the classroom with my mom seeing all these well versed ladies sitting at their stations. I think half of them welcomed my Mom to the class where she corrected them stating it was actually me who had registered. Bit of an awkward start ha-ha.

Those very same ladies were so eager to help her! God Bless Anne of My Sewing Room, here in Calgary, that took Morgan under her wing and taught her. I can bet there are a lot of you out there that know exactly what it is like trying to teach your child something that they really are not too keen on when they are 13 or so! Every one of those ladies were in awe of Morgan week after week as she had all her homework done and was ready for the next step!

I was a bit intimidated by all these ladies who had amazing sewing machines, beautiful fabric, and a general air of knowing. I was experiencing so many new things lately since we moved to the big city, it felt like I had a constant swarm of butterflies in my stomach.

I kept my mouth shut when she choose her fabrics! They were NOTHING like I would choose, but...I had to let that go! This was HERS and hers alone! She had to LOVE what she was working with!

There was no turning back so as the saying goes I "Jumped in with both feet". This was one of those key moments where my passion for sewing ignited.

Thank goodness I learned to keep my mouth shut at that time. It was a good lesson for me too, because I didn't want her to be turned off of quilting. She was a natural!

When my mom sent me her syllabus for the lesson and the Irish Chain quilt was the project I was immediately on board (yes she had a syllabus). My mom has always been diligent and patient with me as I expand my knowledge of sewing. She's is an amazing teacher, just comes natural to her. You could see the passion exude from her as she was teaching her class.

Awwww... thanks honey! I do LOVE it. One thing that you taught ME was to be patient and to wait for my students to ask ME questions rather than budge in! Trust me....that part is still a work in progress!

One of the best parts is seeing all the progress updates pour in from the new quilters. They are all eager and determined. It honestly is shocking how fast they have put their tops together and with such accuracy!

I am seriously proud of all of our students. We had ONE...read it...ONE class. There was a flurry of information and I am sure their heads were spinning the very first class! I am hoping they will continue to grow in their quilting and not take this one class as the FIRST and ONLY! After the first day was over, I was thinking they would have given up. Check out our sneak peeks of the Irish Chain quilt below.

AHHHH - mazing I say!

Fabric choices and nesting seam samples

Break time!

Getting them to practice what I preach! Stabilize that ruler..

put the blade back in anytime you stop cutting! Measure twice or three times..

Sunday, December 4, 2016

I love my job and the company I work for, I am so lucky to have met so many great people and life long friends through work. One of those friends announced they were expecting a baby. I love anything "baby" and was over the moon when hearing this news.

... and so the quilting began. I have about a gazillion quilts I want to do and have them stowed away for the right time. I am sure every quilter can relate to the "wish list" of quilts they want to create.

I had a jelly roll and did not know what to do with it (very normal for me, I tend to purchase any jelly roll that spikes my interest... no matter if I have a project or not.) When I stumbled upon the tutorial from Jenny at Missouri Star Quilt Company I knew this lost jelly roll would now find a home.

I think my motto should be KISS "Keep it Simple Silly". The reason being: keeping it simple is the main criteria I use when selecting a quilt project. This quilt definitely upheld the KISS motto, seriously check out the tutorial to see for yourself how simple it was. Rising Star - Tutorial

*Drum Roll* Here is the final product and the introduction of the CUTEST baby ever !!!

Ashton Matteo Drapeau

I have to say that the name for this quilt is very fitting as Ashton is a rising star.

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Quilting Momma & The Youngest

About Quilting Momma

Creativity is just connecting threads.

Connecting the threads of life, family and love. Through these connections I am truly blessed. I put a piece of myself into everything I make and do. Life is short so remember to love truly, laugh uncontrollably and never forget to SMILE.

About The Youngest

I am the Youngest who does not easily shy away from a new challenge. I am stuborn and determined as any baby in the family. I love being creative in both my work and personal life. I can be summed up in one little quote by Shakespeare.